The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights

“Born to Use Mics,” a meticulous analysis of Nas’ critically acclaimed 1994 debut Illmatic, ventures deep into each track and examines the social context and constructs that influenced the album, and in-turn the entire hip-hop genre.  Edited by Michael Eric Dyson, a professor at Georgetown University, and with an introduction by Grammy award winning rapper and actor Common, “Born to Use Mics” goes beneath the face-value of Nas’ classic verses and beats to derive his influences, both political and musical.

Illmatic paints a true picture of life in the streets, and "Born to Use Mics" employs the album as a starting-point to delve into the hardships of the final years of the crack era.  Investigating the effects of "trickle-down" economics and the far-reaching influences of crack cocaine on communities everywhere, "Born to Use Mics" places itself above and beyond the archetypical hip-hop book to truly scrutinize the socio-political environment that produced a masterpiece and wreaked havoc on a generation.

The Civil Rights Book Club seeks to provide context and provoke discussion about today's top social justice concerns. Each week, we profile a book, a movie, or other media that represent the diversity of the contemporary social justice movement. You can help support The Leadership Conference by purchasing Book Club selections through the Amazon.com link on our website.